Women Need Testosterone Too — Here’s Why

Although estrogen and progesterone get most of the spotlight, testosterone plays major roles in a woman’s overall physiology.

Women depend on testosterone for:

• Lean muscle maintenance
• Bone density
• Libido
• Mood stability
• Cognitive clarity
• Fat metabolism
• Motivation
• Sleep quality
• Energy

When testosterone levels fall, women feel it—but often can’t articulate the cause because the symptoms overlap with thyroid disorders, perimenopause, insulin resistance, and chronic stress.

Why So Many Women Become Testosterone Deficient

There are several reasons:

1. Natural Aging & Perimenopause

Starting in the early 30s, testosterone begins to decline steadily.

2. Stress & Cortisol Imbalance

Chronic stress diverts hormone precursors away from sex hormone production.

We discuss this more in our blog on:
How Stress Impacts Sex Hormones

3. Insulin Resistance or Prediabetes

High insulin suppresses sex hormone production.

See our related page:
Prediabetes Is Insulin Resistance

4. Oophorectomy or Surgical Menopause

Testosterone drops sharply after ovary removal.

5. Oral Contraceptives

Birth control pills increase sex hormone–binding globulin, lowering free testosterone.

Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women

Women often describe:

• Exhaustion
• Low sexual desire
• Weight gain (especially midsection)
• Poor muscle tone
• Mood swings
• Depression or anxiety
• Slowed thinking / foggy brain
• Difficulty maintaining fitness
• Hot flashes not fully relieved by estrogen alone

Many discover that estrogen alone doesn’t correct their symptoms. That’s because estrogen and testosterone work in partnership, not isolation.

How Testosterone Replacement Helps

1. Improved Mood & Emotional Stability

Testosterone supports neurotransmitter balance, including dopamine and serotonin.

2. Better Libido & Sexual Function

Low libido is often multifactorial, but testosterone is central to desire and arousal.

3. More Lean Muscle & Less Fatigue

Women report:

• Firmer muscle tone
• Better workouts
• Faster recovery
• Increased stamina

4. Weight Regulation

Testosterone helps regulate:

• Insulin sensitivity
• Fat metabolism
• Mitochondrial activity

This connects closely to our Functional Medicine approach.

5. Cognitive Enhancement

Women frequently tell us:

“I feel clear again.”
“I’m not overwhelmed anymore.”
“My focus is back.”

We explore this more on our Brain Fog page.

What About Safety?

Women often fear that testosterone will cause:

• Hair growth
• Voice changes
• Acne

When dosing is appropriate and monitored, these outcomes are uncommon.
The key is individualized dosing guided by symptoms and lab markers — not generic pellet dosing.

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